HECTOR — Farmers Gary and Willette Rowlands believe farming is a meaningful way of life. It is a chance to do what they love and share life lessons about love with all their family members.

The Rowlands, along with their two children — Christen Rowlands Minton, Rebecca Rowlands Jackson and their spouses — farm 1,400 acres of cattle and hay at locations on Pine Street and just off of State Highway 105.

The Rowlands’ farm was established in 1893. Gary Rowlands’ grandfather bought the original 120 acres from the U.S. government that year. Rowlands has the original U.S. patent showing the purchase.

The farm also humbly boasts the status of being an Arkansas Century Farm.

Rowlands said he and his wife were surprised to learn they had been recognized, but Pope County Extension Agent and staff chair Phil Sims said they are a great example of the type of leaders in the agriculture community who are selected to be Pope County’s Farm Family of the Year.

“Gary is a leader, not just a farmer,” Sims said. “He is a former Pope County Cattleman’s Association president and the current president for the Pope County Farm Bureau.

“Gary is a solid leader in the agriculture community, not just in Pope County but the state of Arkansas.”

Rowlands and his family are doing a great job with the farm and telling the story of agriculture and the importance it has in Pope County, Sims said.

“There may be farmers as good, but not many,” he said. “The Rowlands family is a prime example of the type of people we have as role models to encourage others to pursue agriculture careers. It’s a tough, but rewarding life, and without farmers the U.S. will become dependent on foreign countries for our food supply.”

The award is definitely an honor, according to Rowlands, who said he was stunned when Phil came to talk to him about it. He said he was thankful to all those who helped.

He always knew he wanted to farm. Rowlands said he was blessed to have the privilege of working the farm with his father for 20 years or so.

“The house at the farm is sixty-four years old,” he said. “My family moved in there when I was just one year old. It’s kinda fuzzy, but I can still remember my first birthday. I can’t recall all the details but, knowing my parents, it was probably big.”

“The colors of the farm during that time are still vivid in my mind,” he recalled. “I remember the tractor he drove, that tractor we used to work on and drive around the farm when it wasn’t being used for work.”

Rowlands’ father was a World War II veteran who served in France with the Twelfth U.S. Army Group — he was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.

“My dad always said ‘no matter how bad the times are we will make it through.’ He also said farming was the best job he ever had.”

Rowlands prefers cattle to swine or chicken farming. He believes God was into cattle farming, according to scripture, and trusts his judgment.

Rowlands bought his first set of six heifers while serving in the Army and started the cattle operation from there.

In addition to farming and spending three nights a week at the farm, Rowlands is a successful real estate broker for James R. Ford — Coldwell Banker and Associates of Russellville.

He now averages 300 head of cattle on hand and farms a productive cow-calf operation by using Angus and Brangus cattle breeding to achieve smaller calves.This is done to reduce complications for first time birthing and eliminate horns which can bruise the beef.

With their own farming equipment, primarily John Deere, the Rowlands produce and bale hay on the farm as well.

Farming wasn’t simply something the Rowlands chose, but is a large part of who they are. Their strong sense of family heritage extends beyond their family farm to their family church.

They grew up attending church and said the decision to attend church was never difficult. The Rowlands have always considered their friends at First Assembly of God in Russellville to be extended family.

“We know that none of this would be possible without the guidance and direction of the Lord,” Rowlands said. “We are continually thankful that our family has been blessed with the opportunity to live our dream.”

The Rowlands’ goal was to increase the number of acres and cattle to the level they are at today.

Since farming operations have to evolve to stay productive, Rowlands has worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) to complete projects using rotational grazing and other methods to decrease soil erosion and maintain water quality.

Tips from the University of Arkansas’s Pope County Extension Services office have helped, he said.

Rowlands has been able to have a shorter hay-feeding season by increasing the availability of grass after the implementation of a rotational grazing schedule to improve pasture utilization.

“The extension service talked about using paddocks, electric fences and feeding rotations to reduce feeding days,” he said. “We are now convinced rotational grazing is effective.”

The Rowlands have been able to cut down on winter hay feeding. Last year, they made 1,750 bales due to the management techniques used last winter.

“We are trying to reduce the number of feeding days to 135 between the months of November and March. We are trying to squeeze ten days off of that and the goal is to save about $16,000 in the end.”

Rowlands said weather is the biggest challenge most farmers face. Too much or too little rain can make or break most family farm operations.

“Last year’s drought had a big effect on growing cattle last year,” he said. “We are trying to build back from that.

“As far as pasture in hay, we have 250 acres to bale this year. We currently have 2,000 bales in the barn.”

“We like to do things as a family,” Rowlands said. “The kids are grown and married, but they will have an integral part in maintaining the business and heritage of our family owned farm.”

The Rowlands’ daughters and their husbands help when and where they can and will help more as their kids get old enough to participate.

“They are involved in the ownership and heirs to our family’s farm legacy,” Rowlands said. “They will retain the farm as we are developing a family limited partnership.”